Cape Fear Valley Health to no longer allow inpatients to place outside food delivery orders

Due to concerns about patients' dietary health and wellness, outside food deliveries for patients will no longer be allowed at any Cape Fear Valley Health facility. This change will not impact visitors' ability to bring their own food while visiting inpatients, though they are asked not to share with patients. Cape Fear Valley's in-house Nutrition staff are available to work with patients to meet their prescribed dietary needs.

This change is the result of a recent increase in inpatients bypassing necessary dietary restrictions while in hospital, as well as an increase in requests from patients for staff to assist them in receiving orders of outside food deliveries. This new rule will better ensure the health and safety of all patients through maintaining acceptable diet and staffing requirements, which are part of patient care plans.

The change will also not impact employees who arrange their own personal outside food deliveries while at work. As in the past, all food deliveries made to a Cape Fear Valley hospital must be met at the main entrance by a person receiving the order. Delivery drivers are not allowed to enter the hospital, nor will news of deliveries be paged to a patient's room.